Top Indepent Music labels and Entrepreneurs in the Nigerian Music Industry

In particular other, we examine the top music labels and other entrepreneurs whose efforts and investments has re- engineered and is sustaining the Nigerian music industry.

1. Chocolate City- Audu Makori led Chocolate City label in a few years have stamped itself as a force to be reckoned with. Its roster though tilted heavily to artistes from  the Northern part of the country include MI, Jesse Jags, Ice Prince and Brymo

2. Kennis Music/Prime Time Entertainment- The  trio of Kenny Ogungbe, Dayo Adeneye and ID Ogungbe need no introduction in the as far as Nigerian entertainment is concerned within the last 15 to 20 years, some of the artistes they have nurtured and brought to limelight include Tuface, Paul Play, Remedies as a group and individually as Idris Abdulkareem, Tony Tetiula, Eddy Montana, Essence, Kenny St. Brown who is also a co-founder of the label,Jaywon,Goldie, Capital Femi, Rasqie, Azadus, Yinka Best and Marvellous Benjy and a host of other artistes who have been with them at one point or the other,
3.Mavin Records- After splitting with former partner Mo Hit partner D - Banj, Mavin Record Boss and one of Africa's best producer Don Jazzy is still maintaining a good grip on the record business with artistes like Dr Sid, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal and D'Prince . Don Jazzy indisputably has about the highest number of production credits around Africa and is equally on the production team of Kanye West's GOOD Music imprint.
4.Empire Mates: Co -owned by Banky W, artistes on the roll call include Banky himself, Wiz Kid, Skale etc
5. Storm Records- The Obi Azika led label few years back was home to some of the top hit makers around. The list will include Naeto C, Shasha, GT the Guitar man, Ikechukwu and Tosin Martins . Storm Record has been in existence longer than most people know having been around since the  late 1980's and being responsible for bring the rap duo of Junior and Pretty into limelight.
6. Now Muzik- Now Musik is without doubt the number artiste management outfit in the country. The Efe Omoregbe led outfit has managed so many talents including Tuface, Faze, Sunny Nneji, Terry G, Tunde and Wunmi Obe to mention but a few.
7. Capital Hill/Goretti Company-The Clarence Peters and Ill Bliss combo is gradually building a solid stable to include Ill Bliss, Chidinma, Phyno, Da Suspekt
8.SoForte - Soforte is an automated music distribution company established by former Kush member Lara George with her husband few years ago. A brave effort in attempting to stream line the chaotic distribution in Nigeria. So forte is more visible with the CD retail at Mr Biggs restaurants nationwide

How Indigenous Record Companies Contributed to the Development of Nigerian Music Industry

The Nigerian music industry witnessed a dominance of recorded music from foreign labels in the 1960's to the 1970's. Some of these recording companies include Philips West Africa limited which later metamorphose to Polygram and currently Premier Music, The British owned Electric and Musical Industry popularly called EMI which is currently known as Ivory Music and Decca West Africa or Afrodisia Records.
These companies were later joined in the early 1980's by CBS later called Sony Music.
Together, these foreign owned companies were responsible for the recording and release of the major musical works of Nigerian artistes as well as the marketing of foreign music in Nigeria .

 

However in the late 1970's, Popular Apala musician Chief Haruna Isola had established Phonodisk Limited which had a record pressing factory in Ijegbu Igbo and employed ace producer as the production person there. Phonodisk innovated and recruited some of the top selling acts then including Kris Okotie, Bongos Ikwe,Amas Grill,Chief Sunny Ade, George Ema, Eric Kol among others.
 Kris Okotie in particular was a musical revelation of some sort who created adequate impetus for the positioning of the Indigenous Recording companies.

Following in the footsteps of Chief Ishola, Prince GAD Tabansi floated Tabansi Records which was responsible for the careers of Felix lebarty,Jide Obi,Ace in house produce Jake Sollo, Esbee Family and others. in the later part of the 80's, Tabansi records produced another in the Nigerian music industry in the person of Majek Fashek with the release of his debut 'Prisoner of Conscience'as well as 'save the masses' by Andy Shurman.
 Other indigenous Record companies of note will include Shanu Olu Records another Ijebu based company that released Terra Kota's debut 'lamentation for Sodom', Chris Robinson Recordings that released Chris Mba's debut 'Love Everlasting', Aba based Top Rank that launched the careers of Daniel Wilson and Alfa Kuffa, Time Records that introduced Oby Onyioha, Rogers All Star that brought to us some of the highlife greats including Prince Nico Mbarga, Supreme Disk that brought out Terry Mackson.
Several other imprint labes existed and together provided a rich catalog of hit songs that were recorded and produced by our indigenous record labels.

Everything Good About Nigerian Music

Welcome to my Naija Classic Music Blog
We simply want to document everything good about Nigerian music
from the Funk filled 70's to the Pop and Reggae  era of the 80's and even every thing good about Nigerian music today.
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